Politics

Majlis reconvenes with debate on food subsidy cut

The People’s Majlis reconvened after a one-month recess today with a heated debate about the doubling of prices for staple foods after the government’s abrupt decision to target subsidies for the needy.

Court ruling threatens to halve MDP’s membership and state funding

The civil court has ruled against an MDP petition that sought to overturn the retroactive application of a requirement for fingerprinted forms for political party membership, threatening to reduce the party’s membership and state funding by half

FAM dismisses claim of ‘government interference’ in top footballer’s exclusion

The Football Association of Maldives has dismissed claims of politicization as controversy grows around its exclusion of a top footballer, who is also a leading opposition activist, from the Maldives campaign for the 2019 Asian Cup

Yameen meets top Saudi officials to discuss development assistance

During official talks, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz accepted an invitation to visit the Maldives at a mutually convenient date. Yameen also met with the Saudi foreign minister, education minister, Islamic affairs minister, and the chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development.

Gayoom rebuffs government’s demand of council-endorsed representatives for talks

The government demanded that representatives for all-party talks must be endorsed by executive councils after Gayoom appointed his son to represent the PPM. A majority of the divided ruling party’s council is seen as loyal to President Abdulla Yameen in the ongoing fued between the Gayoom brothers.

President arrives in Saudi Arabia on second official visit

Yameen will discuss boosting ties in trade and infrastructure development in a meeting with King Salman, the president’s office said.

Malé’s badly damaged roads getting a makeover

Government promises to reduce food prices amid protests

The government has promised to reduce the cost of food staples after a backlash from within the ruling party and protests by the opposition over an abrupt hike in food and electricity prices

Maldives calls for ‘environment conducive to holding SAARC summit’

The Maldives has urged member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to create an environment conducive for holding the regional body’s 19th summit after it was postponed amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.

Government hopes to begin direct talks with opposition by mid October

The government is open to discussing the release of opposition leaders and has agreed to an opposition demand for mediation by the United Nations, the fisheries minister said.

Commonwealth envoy warned of ‘severe democracy deficit’ in Maldives

“The long-term detention of political leaders has eroded the government and the judiciary’s legitimacy. The inability of political leaders to participate in political life could prevent a credible presidential election in 2018,” reads Dr Willy Mutunga’s briefing note to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.

Head of state utility corporation replaced with former MP

The dismissal of Fenaka Corporation’s Managing Director Mohamed Nimal comes weeks after a US$1 million corruption scandal surfaced in local media. The state utility company has reportedly been unable to recover MVR17 million released to a local company to purchase dollars.

Raajje TV admits allegations of fraud against tax commissioner was a mistake

Raajje TV said it made a mistake by publishing allegations of fraud against the tax commissioner, Mohamed Yazeed, who has sued the station for defamation over the report

MDP decides to join all-party talks

The MDP’s national council decided to heed the Commonwealth’s call for time-bound dialogue without preconditions “to achieve national agreement on institutional reform, and to ensure a conducive environment for credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018.”

EC promises to release political party funds ahead of January’s polls

“We are trying to distribute the funds as soon as possible. It will be given before the preparations for local council elections begin for sure,” EC member Ahmed Akram told The Maldives Independent today. “All that’s remaining now is the administrative procedures to distribute the money.”

After Commonwealth warning, government renews call for dialogue

On Sunday, the government asked the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and the Adhaalath Party to send details of its representatives for all-party talks “as they were the only parties who have not yet done so despite several previous requests.”

Ridicule and relief after president mistakenly proclaims island uninhabited

A decree issued on Thursday declaring Mundoo as uninhabited was rescinded later that night with the president’s office blaming incorrect information from the department of national registration and apologising to the island’s small population.

Fuvahmulah declared Maldives’ third city

As Fuvahmulah is uniquely both an island and its own atoll, it currently has an atoll council as well as island councils for each of its eight administrative wards, with a total of 30 elected councillors. However, the island will now have a three-member city council.

Maldives seeks election to UN Security Council

Citing under-representation of small states in the UN’s main bodies, Foreign Minister Dr Mohamed Asim announced Saturday the Maldives’ candidature to the UN Security Council for the term 2019-2020.

Catering firm awarded project to build bridge viewing platform

Strada Pvt Ltd, a food and beverage firm owned by a senior ruling party official, will bear the MVR8 million (US$518,800) cost, according to the housing ministry.